Rotating support member for moving handrail

ABSTRACT

Handrail support member located at ends of balustrades consists of a hoop or rim which rotatably supports the handrail during movement between its upper and lower runs. Each hoop is supported by a plurality of rollers which may be rigidly mounted on the newel support frame or suspended therefrom by load equalizing lever arms to obtain a more uniform distribution of bearing pressure around the inner periphery of the hoop thus reducing contact stresses.

United States Patent [72] Inventor Ernest D. Johnson Tallmadge, Ohio[2]] Appl. No. 8,447 [22] Filed Feb. 4, 1970 [45] Patented Nov. 30, 1971[73] Assignee The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company Akron, Ohio [54]ROTATING SUPPORT MEMBER FOR MOVING HANDRAIL 11 Claims, 5 Drawing Figs.

[52] 0.8. CI 198/16 [51] Int. Cl B661) 9/12 [50] Field of Search198/16-18 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,929,483 3/1960Minejiro 198/16 Primary Examiner-Richard E. Aegerter Allorneys-F. W.Brunner and Oberlin. Maky, Donnelly &

Renner ABSTRACT: Handrail support member located at ends of balustradesconsists of a hoop or rim which rotatably supports the handrail duringmovement between its upper and lower runs. Each hoop is supported by aplurality of rollers which may be rigidly mounted on the newel supportframe or suspended therefrom by load equalizing lever arms to obtain amore uniform distribution of bearing pressure around the inner peripheryofthe hoop thus reducing contact stresses.

ROTATING SUPPORT MEMBER FOR MOVING HANDRAIL This invention relatesgenerally to a rotating support member for moving handrails which causesconsiderably less drag and wear on the handrails than previous knownfixed handrail guides and is more simple in construction and easier toinstall than present day newel pulleys.

Most passenger conveyor systems are provided with endless movinghandrails adjacent one or both sides of the moving belt or stairway forgrasping by the passengers while being transported on the belt orstairway. The upper run of the handrail is generally supported by aguide rail extending along the top of the balustrade structure, whereasthe lower or return run is supported within or beneath the balustrade,depending on whether or not the balustrade is light-transmissive. In agreat many installations, the guide rails curve around the ends of thebalustrades to provide a continuous guide surface along which thehandrail slides during passage between the upper and lower runs. Suchend sliding contact creates considerable drag on the handrail resultingin excessive wear and deterioration of the handrail, and also addsconsiderably to the amount of power required to move the handrail.Plural rollers have been provided along the curved end portions of theguide rail which have reduced the drag on the handrail but this has alsocaused premature failure of the handrail.

Large diameter pulleys have also been used at the ends of thebalustrades in place of the curved guide rail end portions and smallrollers to better support the handrail during movement between the upperand lower runs, with consequent reduction in the drag on the handrailand improved handrail life. However, such large diameter pulleys aregenerally unsightly and difiicult to mount, particularly in modern dayconveyor systems which use light-transmissive or transparent balustradepanels, exposing the pulleys to full view within the balustrades.

With the foregoing in mind, it is a principal object of this inventionto provide a support member for the handrails at the ends of thebalustrades which is of relatively simple construction and easy toinstall.

Another object is to provide such a handrail support member whichminimizes the amount of drag on the handrail during passage between theupper and lower runs and permits the use of higher handrail tensions.

A further object is to provide such a handrail support member whichdistributes the stresses uniformly over a large area of the handrailresulting in increased handrail life.

Still another object is to provide such a handrail support member whichis easy to mount in modern day conveyor system designs incorporatinglight-transmissive balustrade panels and creates a very estheticappearance when viewed through the light-transmissive panels.

These and other objects of the present invention may be achieved byusing smooth continuous hoops for the handrail support members rotatablysupported at the ends of the balustrades by a plurality of rollers whichmay be rigidly mounted on the newel support frame or suspended byload-equalizing lever arms for more uniformly distributing rollerpressures around the inner periphery of the hoops and thereby reducingcontact stresses. No support or mount is required for the centers of thehoops thus making them easy to install in modern day designs which uselight-transmissive balustrade panels. After installation, only the hoopsare visible through the panels, which creates a very pleasingappearance.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, the invention,then, comprises the features hereinafter fully described andparticularly pointed out in the claims, the following description andthe annexed drawings setting forth in detail a certain illustrativeembodiment of the invention, this being indicative, however, of but oneof the various ways in which the principles of the invention may beemployed.

In the annexed drawings:

FIG. 1 is a schematic fragmentary side elevation view of a typicalmodern passenger conveyor system incorporating the preferred form ofhandrail support members of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged side elevation view of the passenger conveyorsystem of FIG. 1, with portions of the balustrade and handrail brokenaway to show the details of construction of the handrail support member;and

FIGS. 3 through 5 are enlarge transverse sections through the handrailsupport member of FIG. 2, taken on the planes of the lines 3-3, 4-4, and55, respectively.

In FIG. I there is schematically shown a typical passenger conveyorsystem 1 having a handrail 2 in the form of an endless flexible beltextending along one or both sides of the conveyor portion 3 for graspingby the passengers while being transported along the conveyor portion.The handrail 2 is desirably generally C-shape in section as shown inFIGS. 3 and 5, and consists of an upper run 4 which is supported by aguide rail along the upper edge of the balustrade 6 located at the sidesof the conveyor portion 3, and a lower run 7 which is desirablysupported beneath the balustrades 6 to permit lighttransmissive ortransparent panels 8 and 9 to be used between the balustrade posts 10and at the newel portions 11 of the balustrades.

To support the handrail 2 during its passage around each newel portion11 between the upper and lower runs 4 and 7, respectively, there isprovided a handrail support member 15 in accordance with this inventionat the ends of the balustrades. One of the handrail support members 15,which are of identical construction, is shown in detail in FIGS. 2through 5, and consists of a large diameter support rim or hoop 16 whichsurrounds the curved end portion 17 of the newel support structure 18after passing through openings 20 in the newel support structure fromthe interior of the balustrade 6 between the light-transmissive panels9. The hoop 16 is of a rigid material such as steel which has beenrolled to shape and the ends welded or otherwise connected together by amechanical joint. A plurality of rollers 22 mounted circumferentiallyaround the outer periphery of the curved newel end portion 17 providethe sole means of support for the hoop 16, thus eliminating the need forthe usual center mount for conventional newel pulleys which areunsightly when viewed through the transparent balustrade panels and aredifficult to mount therein. The rollers 22 may include bearings such asball bearings, roller hearings or other types of antifriction bearingsto provide a minimum of resistance to rotation thereof.

If desired, the rollers 22 may be rigidly supported by the newel supportstructure 18, but it is preferred that such rollers 22 be suspended bymeans of a series of load-equalizing lever arms 23 to better distributethe load on the hoop l6 and reduce contact stresses. As shown in FIGS. 2and 3, two pairs of such load-equalizing lever arms 23 are desirablyprovided, each pair being pivotally mounted intermediate their ends onopposite ends of a pivot shaft 24 utilizing suitable bushings 25. Thepivot shafts 24 are carried by mounting brackets 26 bolted or otherwisesecured to the newel support structure 18. Set screws 27 (see FIG. 3)may be used to lock the pivot shafts 24 in place within the mountingbrackets. At the ends of the load equalizing arms 23 a pair of rollersupport members 28 are pivotally connected intennediate their ends as bymeans of a pivot shaft 29 and suitable bushings 30 as shown in FIGS. 2and 4. Between such roller support members 28 at the ends thereof arebearing shafts 32 on which are mounted the rollers 22 as shown in FIGS.2 and 5. Screws 33 or the like may be used to secure the bearing shafts32 to the support members 28, and spacers 34 may be provided between theinner races 35 of the rollers 22 and support members 28.

The outer races 38 of the rollers 22 are received in a groove or channel39 around the inner circumference of the hoop 16 which is maintained inengagement with the rollers 22 by the handrail 2 pressing against thehoop as shown in FIG. 2. Accordingly, as the handrail 2 is driven insynchronism with the conveyor portion 3 by suitable means, not shown,the hoop 16 will be caused to rotate by engagement by the handrail andwill provide adequate support for the handrail during move ment betweenthe upper and lower runs with very little drag or friction on thehandrail, resulting in much less distortion and wear of the handrailthan that caused by existing handrail supports such as roller clustersand guide rails. The large diameter hoop 16 also distributes thestresses on the handrail over a large area, and the lever arm supportedrollers 22 distribute the load over a large area of the hoop thusreducing contact stresses between the rollers 22 and hoop 16.

Side plates 40 of metal or other rigid material cover the sides of thenewel support structure 18 and hide from view the rollers 22 and theirrespective mounts, thus leaving visible only the portion of the hoop 16which can be seen through the transparent balustrade panels 9. If thehoop I6 is made of an attractive material or is attractively decorated,the visual effect of the hoop 16 passing between the transparent panels9 can be very esthetic. The side plates 40, in addition to concealingthe rollers 22 and mounts therefor, also extend slightly into theinterior of the handrail 2 adjacent the inturned edges 41 as shown inFIGS. 3 and to provide guide surfaces for maintaining the handrail 2properly centered with respect to the outer periphery of the hoop 16.The roller faces and hoop 16 may also be coated with an elastomer orplastic material to reduce noise, ifdesired.

From the foregoing, it can now be seen that the handrail support memberof the present invention is of a relatively simple construction whichmay be readily installed in existing or new passenger conveyor systemsand provides a smooth rotating surface for the handrail during itspassage between the upper and lower runs. The handrail support member isparticularly effective in eliminating the high friction and distortionof the handrail that has been caused by previous known handrail supportmembers resulting in increased handrail life, and also permits the useof higher handrail tensions, as desired.

While certain representative embodiments and details have been shown forthe purpose of illustrating the invention, it will be apparent to thoseskilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be madetherein without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention.

1 claim:

1. in a conveyor system having a movable conveyor portion fortransporting loads, a balustrade adjacent at least one side of theconveyor portiomand an endless handrail having an upper run supported bysaid balustrade and a lower run, wherein the improvement comprises ahandrail support member at one end of said balustrade for supportingsaid handrail during passage between said upper and lower runs at saidone end, said handrail support member comprising a large diameter hooprotatable about a center, the outer periphery of said hoop being engagedby and supporting said handrail during movement between said upper andlower runs, and means radially spaced from said center for rotatablysupporting the inner periphery of said hoop in the region opposite theouter periphery which is engaged by said handrail during movementbetween said upper and lower runs.

2. The conveyor system of claim 1 wherein said balustrade haslight-transmissive panels through which an unsupported portion of saidhoop is visible.

3. The conveyor system of claim 1 wherein said hoop consists of a rigidcontinuous circular rim having a smooth outer surface which is engagedby said handrail during movement between said upper and lower runs.

4. The conveyor system of claim 1 wherein said means for supporting saidhoop for rotation includes a plurality of rollers engaging the innerperiphery of said hoop opposite the outer periphery thereof which isengaged by said handrail as aforesaid, and means for supporting saidrollers adjacent the end of said balustrade.

5. The conveyor system of claim 4 wherein said handrail is generallyC-shape in section with inturned edges, and said balustrade has sideplates which conceal said rollers and mounts therefor from view, saidside plates extending into the interior of said handrail adjacent saidinturned edges to provide guide surfaces for maintaining said handrailproperly centered with res ect to said hoop.

The conveyor system of claim 4 wherein the inner periphery of said hoopcontains a groove for receipt of said rollers, said hoop beingmaintained in engagement with said rollers by the portion of saidhandrail between said upper and lower runs pressing against the outerperiphery of said hoop.

7. The conveyor system of claim 4 wherein said means for supporting saidrollers comprises plural support members pivotally mounted intermediatetheir ends and having said rollers mounted for rotation at their ends.

8. The conveyor system of claim 7 wherein said means for supporting saidrollers further comprises plural load-equalizing arms to the ends ofwhich said support members are pivoted intermediate their ends, saidload-equalizing arms also being pivotally mounted intermediate theirends to distribute the load on said hoop among said rollers.

9. The conveyor system of claim 8 wherein the pivotal mounts for saidload-equalizing arms comprise mounting brackets secured to the end ofsaid balustrade, a pivot shaft carried by each mounting bracket, and apair of load-equalizing arms pivotally mounted intermediate their endson opposite ends of said pivot shafts.

10. The conveyor system of claim 9 wherein the pivotal mounts for saidsupport members comprise pivot shafts extending between the ends of saidpairs of load-equalizing arms, said support members being pivotallyconnected to said loadequalizing arms in pairs by said last-mentionedpivot shafts.

11. The conveyor system of claim 10 further comprising bearing shaftsbetween the ends of each pair of support members, said rollers beingmounted on said bearing shafts.

1. In a conveyor system having a movable conveyor portion fortransporting loads, a balustrade adjacent at least one side of theconveyor portion, and an endless handrail having an upper run supportedby said balustrade and a lower run, wherein the improvement comprises ahandrail support member at one end of said balustrade for supportingsaid handrail during passage between said upper and lower runs at saidone end, said handrail support member comprising a largE diameter hooprotatable about a center, the outer periphery of said hoop being engagedby and supporting said handrail during movement between said upper andlower runs, and means radially spaced from said center for rotatablysupporting the inner periphery of said hoop in the region opposite theouter periphery which is engaged by said handrail during movementbetween said upper and lower runs.
 2. The conveyor system of claim 1wherein said balustrade has light-transmissive panels through which anunsupported portion of said hoop is visible.
 3. The conveyor system ofclaim 1 wherein said hoop consists of a rigid continuous circular rimhaving a smooth outer surface which is engaged by said handrail duringmovement between said upper and lower runs.
 4. The conveyor system ofclaim 1 wherein said means for supporting said hoop for rotationincludes a plurality of rollers engaging the inner periphery of saidhoop opposite the outer periphery thereof which is engaged by saidhandrail as aforesaid, and means for supporting said rollers adjacentthe end of said balustrade.
 5. The conveyor system of claim 4 whereinsaid handrail is generally C-shape in section with inturned edges, andsaid balustrade has side plates which conceal said rollers and mountstherefor from view, said side plates extending into the interior of saidhandrail adjacent said inturned edges to provide guide surfaces formaintaining said handrail properly centered with respect to said hoop.6. The conveyor system of claim 4 wherein the inner periphery of saidhoop contains a groove for receipt of said rollers, said hoop beingmaintained in engagement with said rollers by the portion of saidhandrail between said upper and lower runs pressing against the outerperiphery of said hoop.
 7. The conveyor system of claim 4 wherein saidmeans for supporting said rollers comprises plural support memberspivotally mounted intermediate their ends and having said rollersmounted for rotation at their ends.
 8. The conveyor system of claim 7wherein said means for supporting said rollers further comprises pluralload-equalizing arms to the ends of which said support members arepivoted intermediate their ends, said load-equalizing arms also beingpivotally mounted intermediate their ends to distribute the load on saidhoop among said rollers.
 9. The conveyor system of claim 8 wherein thepivotal mounts for said load-equalizing arms comprise mounting bracketssecured to the end of said balustrade, a pivot shaft carried by eachmounting bracket, and a pair of load-equalizing arms pivotally mountedintermediate their ends on opposite ends of said pivot shafts.
 10. Theconveyor system of claim 9 wherein the pivotal mounts for said supportmembers comprise pivot shafts extending between the ends of said pairsof load-equalizing arms, said support members being pivotally connectedto said load-equalizing arms in pairs by said last-mentioned pivotshafts.
 11. The conveyor system of claim 10 further comprising bearingshafts between the ends of each pair of support members, said rollersbeing mounted on said bearing shafts.